Cyclones Fall to Sacramento State, 4-0

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Iowa State’s softball team suffered its second loss of the season Saturday at the SCU Softball Field as the Cyclones fell to Sacramento State, 4-0. The defeat drops ISU to 10-2 on the season while Sacramento State improved to 4-5.

Keys to the GameIowa State missed an opportunity to assert its control early, as the Cyclones loaded the bases with two outs, but could not convert as Lexi Slater flew out to end the inning.

The Hornets got on the board in the third inning when Paige Castro scored on a two-out error at first base during Sasha Margulies at-bat. The fifth inning saw Sacramento State add another run to its total as Alexis Martinez doubled down the right-field line to drive in one run to make it 2-0.

The top of the sixth marked the breakthrough inning for Sacramento State. However, it looked like after allowing two baserunners to start the inning, ISU would get out of it without allowing anything after recording two straight outs. However, Paige Martin drove in a run to make it 3-0 and Martinez added a second run the next batter to make it the final score of 4-0.

Iowa State had opportunities throughout the game, but could not convert any of them and finished the game with nine left on base.

Player of the GameBrittany Gomez. The sophomore finished the game 2-of-4 from the plate, the only Cyclone with more than one hit on the afternoon, and chipped in a stolen base.

With Aly Cappaert seeing her school-record 18-game hit streak come to an end, it opens the door for Gomez to take a shot at it. She is currently riding a 12-game hitting streak covering all of ISU’s games this season. She is the only player in the Big 12 to record a hit in all of her teams’ games this year.

On DeckIowa State closes out the Marriott Bronco Invitational with a doubleheader Sunday. The Cyclones will take on hosts Santa Clara at noon CST, 10 a.m. in California. Iowa State will immediately follow that with a game against San Diego, who ISU defeated 5-4 earlier Saturday.